Cattle-guard.



H. WARDLOW.

CATTLE GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1913.

Patented May 12, 1914. I

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

an era.

HAZEN WARIDLOW, OF NAYLOR, MISSQURI, ASSIGNOR TO HUGH T. GODDIN, OF NAYLOR, MISSOURI.

CATTLE-GUARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 1914:.

Application filed June 27, 1913. Serial No. 776,126.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAZEN WVARDLoW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Naylor, in the county of Ripley and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cattle-Guards, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cattle guards, which are used in connection with a railway track, for preventing the passage of cattle, or other animals, into a section of land.

An important object of the invention is to provide means of the above mentioned character, which will prevent the cattle or the like from passing over the same and will cause the cattle to instinctively back 01? of the same, upon attempting to cross it.

A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the above mentioned character, which includes spring means so constructed that when the cattle step upon the same their feet are automatically thrown rearwardly, and the forward stepping move ment is prevented, while the cattleare free to withdraw their feet upon a backward movement.

A further object of my invention is to provide means of the above mentioned character, which are simple in construction, strong, durable and capable of preventing the cattle from crossing the same without entrapping the same or injuring them.

Other objects and advantages of this in vention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of a railroad showing my improved cattle guard applied thereto, Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, and, Fig. i is a perspective view of one of the spring tread plates.

In the drawings, wherein for the sake of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a track, including rails 6 and cross ties 7, as is customary.

The numeral 8 designates a plurality of my improved cattle guards, which are arranged upon opposite sides of a crossing to circumstances.

prevent the passage of cattle in either direction into the adjoining fields or the like, as shown.

As each cattle guard is identical with the other, a detailed description of one will suffice for both. Each cattle guard comprises a plurality of spaced cross ties 9, the number ofwhich may be greatly varied as may be found advantageous, under the particular The cross ties 9, as more clearly shown in Figs- 2 and 3, have their upper portions beveled, as shown at 10, providing inclined faces which slope toward the entrance end of the cattle guard, which may be designated by the numeral 11. Each cross tie 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, is provided adjacent its beveled or tapered upper portion with enlargements or chairs 12, serving to support the rails 6.

The numeral 13 designates longitudinally extending ties or rails, which are inverted V-shaped in cross-section, and more clearly shown in Fig. 3. The longitudinal -V-shaped' rails 13 are provided with recesses or openings 14, for receiving the upper beveled or tapered portion of the cross ties 9. The longitudinal V-shaped rails 13 are rigidly connected with the cross ties 9 by pins or any other suitable means. As clearly shown in Fig. l, the longitudinal V-shaped tie or rails 13 are disposed between and outwardly of the track rails 6, the same being suitably spaced and in any number, as may be found advantageous under the particular circumstances.

Disposed between the longitudinal ties or rails 13 and mounted upon the upper beveled or tapered portion of the cross ties 9, are normally horizontally arranged resilient tread plates 14. As more clearly shown in Fig. 4, each tread plate 14; is formed of a section of suitable stiff spring sheet metal, which is bent downwardly at its forward end forming a depending section 15, which is bent upwardly forming an upstanding spur section 16, having a pointed or tapered end 17, as shown. As more clearly shown in Fig. 2, the resilient tread plate is mounted upon the upper tapered or beveled portion of the cross tie 9, the same extending rearwardly toward the entrance end 11 of the cattle guard. The depending portion 15 engages-the forward vertical side wall of the tie, and is attached thereto by means of a bolt 18 or the like, passing through an opening 19 which is formed near the lower end of the depending portion 15. It is thus seen that the tread plate may be properly held in place by a single bolt or the like.

The tread plate 1 1 is adapted when subjected to suflicient pressure to move clownwardly, until the same engages the inclined or beveled face 10. It is thus seen that when the cow or the like steps upon a selected tread plate 14, the same will move downwardly to assume the inclined position, whereby the cows foot will be thrown rearwardly toward the entrance end 11 of the cattle guard. lVhen the foot slips off of the free end of the plate 14:, such plate will return to its normal horizontal position. Now if the cow attempts to move its foot upwardly while taking a forward step the same will be caught by the tread plate 14, but the cow may freely withdraw her foot by moving the same upwardly while taking a backward step. By this manner as soon as the animal passes upon the cattle guard, the same will instinctively back off of the same, upon finding that the foot or feet cannot be removed upon attempting to walk forwardly.

Attention is called to the fact that the free ends of the tread plates 1% are spaced a considerable distance from the rear adjacent cross tie, providing openings 14%, which afford. ample room for the feet of the animal, whereby the same will not be injured. The V-shaped longitudinal ties or rails 13 serve to deflect the animals foot upon the tread plates 14, should the animal first step upon the rails 13. The spurs 16 are provided to further obstruct the passage of the animal. The first cross tie 9 at the entrance end 11 of the cattle guard is not provided with tread plates but the same is provided with upstanding pointed spurs 20, attached thereto, by means of bolts 21 or the like.

Although I prefer to form the tread plates 1% out of suitably stiff spring sheet metal, yet the invention is not restricted to the em ployment of this material alone, except when so specified in the claims, as I have found that satisfactory results are obtainable by the use of other material.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a cattle guard of the character described, the combination with a plurality of cross ties having their upper portions beveled to deflect the cattle feet rearwardly, of a plurality of longitudinal spaced ties connected with the cross ties and having their upper portions beveled to deflect the cattle feet laterally therefrom, and normally approximately horizontally arranged resilient tread plates disposed between the longitudinal ties and connected with the cross ties.

2. In a cattle guard of the character described, the combination with a plurality of spaced cross ties having their upper portions beveled to deflect the cattle feet rearwardly, of a plurality of normally approximately horizontally arranged resilient tread plates connected with the upper tapered portions of the cross ties and extending rearwardly therefrom and having their free ends spaced a considerable distance from the adjacent rear cross ties for providing relatively large foot receiving openings.

3. In a cattle guard of the character described, the combination with a cross tie, of a normally approximately horizontally arranged spring sheet metal tread plate disposed upon the upper face of the cross tie and having its forward end bent clownwardly for providing a depending portion and back upon the depending portion for providing an upstanding pointed spur portion, and means attaching the depending portion to the cross tie.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HAZEN IVARDLOVV.

W itnesses HARRISON Hanennavn, FERDINAND E. SIMPSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. C. 

